The Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH)

is dedicated to high level research in a range of humanities disciplines with a focus on Intellectual and Literary History, Critical and Cultural Studies, the History of Emotions, and Science and Society.

It has a core of permanent research-focused academics and postdoctoral researchers working on specific projects, and hosts short stay Faculty and Visiting Fellows.

Integral to the activities of the Institute is a programme of public engagement, through the hosting of public lectures and seminars, provision of media commentary, and production of podcasts, blogs, newspaper and magazine articles.

RESEARCH PROGRAMS

Study of the intellectual life of past cultures—ideas, attitudes, values and beliefs—provides us with important resources for understanding the present. IASH researchers have particular interests in the histories of science, religion, literature, and sexuality

Australian work in this field is on the cutting edge of contemporary humanities research internationally. Taking in literary and critical theory, film and media studies, and cultural studies, research in critical and cultural studies has played a crucial role in extending our capacity to understand our social political and cultural environments

The Centre for the History of Emotions is a national humanities research initiative undertaken across five Australian universities, including UQ. The Centre draws on the expertise of scholars in literary criticism, social and political history, art history, performance history, and musicology to examine individual and collective emotional experience in medieval and early modern Europe.

Professor Peter Harrison's research focuses on the interactions of philosophy, science and religion in the early modern period. He is currently working on an ARC Laureate project on 'Science and Secularization'.